Differential-driving mechanism



1927. Apnl 12 s. R. DODDS DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 7. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheat 1 A TTORNEY 1,624589 I Aprll 12 1927. v s. R. DODDS DIFIFEIUENTIAL DRIV ING MECHANISM Filed 001:. '7. 1925 a Sheets-She'et 2 A TTORNEY @'IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

VUNITED STATES SAMUEL Rt DODDS, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

mrnnnnntrmn-nnivme MECHANISM.

Application filed Gctoiier 7, 1925'. Serial N0: 61 ,056.

My invention refers to an improvement in driving mechanism adapted to impart equal-- i'z'ed'power to each member of a pair of power transmitting shafts, through the agency of an equalizing bar or linlt constructed and adapted to operate in the manner hereinafter described; v

Wherever power is transmitted fromja drivingm'ot'or or prime mover of any kinct at each sideofa driving center, as in axles, shaf-ting, etc, and through gearing having inflexible driving connection with other gearing, it is desirable to equalize the pressure and power transmitting torque of the plural gears for equal wear and power transmission. In order" to accomplish such re'-* sults I divide the driving gear shaft and mount the individual members thereof in such manner as to ensure proper aiinement', with a limited relative inde endent rotation of either individual shaft, and Connect each member with the source of power by means of equalizing bar. In the construction shown, illustrating one preferred embodiment of theinvention, the equalizing bar is mounted within a driving housing and con-- nected therewith by a middlepin or lug, and by each end portion: with partsof the con fronting end portions of theshafts, by fieX- i'bl'e contacting bearing portions-.

in the'drawingsz- Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic plan viewshowing the invention a's applied to the doublegears of a; driven shaft.

Fig; 2' is an enlarged view of the e'qualiz'- ing mechanism, partly brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is" a cross section on the line IH- Hr of'Figi 2i i g Fig. 4. is a orosssection on*t he'1ine-IV -I-V of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5* is a view of the coupling end of one of the driving shafts.

Fig. 6 is-an' inner end view thereof;-

Fig. 7 is a detail face view of the-equal as indicated at G G-and their inner ends err-- tend into abutting engagement by; terminah fianges 77 at the middie portion of an enclosingihousingor sleeve 8. As" shown such housing is provided witlr oppositely" extemb ing lugs for driving: connection: with thespider of the armature of an electric motor M orother primemover', of any" suitable construction, The housing may be two part,- as shown, for assembly of the parts, in which case the lugs 9 may extend from 013- posite side portions integrally, or'they may be divided at the meeting middle portion: of the housing, with centering dowel pins, as in Figs; 2 and 3.

Alternatively, the housing may be" made solid, with one'of the end journal bearings for the shaft removable,- as intlicated at 10,- Fig. 9; \Vith either constructionthus coin nected with the armature of a motor, or otherwise with the driving element of any power imparting unit, the housing will be rotated for imparting movement to the shafts 5.

Said shaftsare j'ournal led in the ends of the housing at 11 and are each provided with flan ed heads 7 in abutting engage ment and having finished bearin engagement by their rims against" the inner alumlar bearing portion 12 of the" housing; for maintaining alinement.

Between such flangedends and thebearingl l each shaft 5 isrein'forced by radially extending wings 13- t'orming rotating" abut ments for en agement by" the end portions 14 of the equalizing" bar 1-5.- Said bar is in driving connection with the housing eby a: middle stud or pin 1 6 extendingthrough a hole in the wall of the housing, as shown;

S'uclistud may be integral, or separately inserted by a driving or threaded fitg-a'sp're-- ferred. I

i The equalizing bar 15 hasapivotal or rocking mounting with relation to the hone h1g8 by st-ud 16% The enu bearing'portions l kofthebararerounded as 1'1 and inter fit with corresponding concave sockets 17 of the shaft ears 13. The co-acting surfaces of these parts are ground or otherwise finished to provide good bearing contact so as to avoid friction, and the interior of the housing may if desired, be filled with any suitable lubricant. As thu's constructed the meeting'ends of shafts 5 are in a sense coupled together by the equalizing bar 15 so that as the housing 8 rotates with the bar, its outer ends 14 will bear against the ears l3, equalizing the pressure ateach side and al lowing for sufiicient deflection to adjust the pinions 4- with relation to gears 2 for equal transmission of power with a minimum of equally divided frictlon.

As shown, the ears 13, extending in opposite directions, provide intervening clearance for inter-fitting location of the ends of the equalizing bar, while the terminal flanges 7 are interrupted as at 18 to provide clearance for the same purpose.

In such arrangement it will be obvious that the shafts may be driven in either direction, as by a reversible motor.

The construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description.

The rotation of the housing and the maintenance of the properrelation oi the parts results in equal transmission of power through both shafts, while their journal bearings ll in the ends of the housing, and by their flanges 7 at its middle, ensure continuous alinement at all times.

If desired, the flanges 7 may he cut out at both opposite sides as at 1b instead of one side only, to equalize the weight of the flange, and to balance the constrmrtion in operation.

It will be understood of course that the meeting surfaces of the parts may be of hardened metal or that inserted bearing members may be used to reduce wear.

Also that the construction may he variously changed or modified in dili'erent respects by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:-

l. The combination with a plurality of end confronting driving shafts each having a lateral abutment, of an outer surrounding armature, a power imparting housing within the armature, and an equalizing bar engaging said abutments within and in rota tive connection with the power imparting housing.

2. The combination with a plurality of end-to-end driving shafts each having a laterally 1,)rojecting bearing abutl'nent, of an outer surrounding armature, an equalizing bar having opposite bearing terminals engaging said abutments and a central stud, and a surrouiuling rotatable housing within the armature having means for connection therewith and in driving engagement with the stud.

3. The combination with a plurality of oppositely extending end-to-end driving shafts having laterally extending abutments, an outer surrounding armature, and an en: closing housing for the shafts having means for connection with the outer surrounding armature, of a partly cylindrical equalizing bar provided with oppositely disposed bearing portions engaging an abutment of each shaft and having an intervening connection with the housing.

4. The combination with a plurality of oppositely extending driving shafts in endto-end abutting engagement and having late ally extending abutments forming annular portions and an enclosing housing therefor, providing centralizing bearings for the annular portions of the abutting ends of the shafts and having means for connection with an outer surrounding rotating element, of an equalizing bar within the housing rotatably and pivotally connected therewith and having partly cylindrical end portions engaging the shaft abutments.

5. Equalizing driving mechanism for a pair oi oppositely extending end contacting shafts each having a laterally extending aljnitnuent consisting of an embracing housing having external lugs for connection with the armature of a driving motor and provided with a middle stud bearing, and a partly cylindrical equalizing bar within the housing having a stud engaging said hearing and provided with oppositely extending rounded terminals each engaging an abutment of said shafts.

(j. The combination with a Jair oi abutting shalits in axial alinement having annular bearing flanges and radially disposed abutments, of a slu'rounding housing therefor provided with a middle interior annular hearing section tor said bearing flanges and a middle radially extending stud bearing, a partly cylindrical equalizing bar having terminals engaging the shaft abutinentsand a middle stud pivotally engaging said stud bearing, and lugs on the exterior of the housing for driving connection with an outer surrounding motor armature.

In testimony whereof. I hereunto affix my signature.

SAMUEL R. DODDS. 

